Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts : Craft and Structure
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts
All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Craft And Structure
Passage 1:
The penny has long outlived its usefulness in the monetary system and should be removed from use. Pennies cost more to produce than the value they represent. In fact, it costs taxpayers nearly two cents to produce and distribute every one cent penny.
Additionally, the penny does not represent the real level of purchasing power. Go to the corner store today and ask for the “penny candy,” and you might be routed to a row of treats, but you’re unlikely to find anything for purchase for under a quarter.
On top of the cost and lack of benefit, pennies are also heavy for their value, so much so that many don’t even care to keep the pennies they receive in change. 11% of people report that they would rather throw a penny away than carry it around with them, and over $62 million dollars in coins are thrown out annually - most of them pennies.
Whether it’s at the grocery register or at the bank, everyone who handles pennies agrees that they are excessively time-consuming to process. Even most charities would rather do without the pennies they receive! It’s time we let go of this costly antiquity and get rid of the penny once and for all!
Passage 2:
The penny is a sacred historic symbol in America and should be respected for its historical value. Over half of Americans are in favor of keeping the penny, and many fear the trend that eliminating low-value currency sets. “Rounding tax,” or the inclination for businesses to round prices up to the nearest unit of change available, could have an impact on consumers, and as inflation continues, the nickel, the dime, and even the quarter could follow!
Not only does the penny help keep costs low, but it would also be costly to take out of commission effectively. The penny is also a powerful historical tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who has appeared on the penny’s face since 1909.
The penny represents far more than its one-cent value and eliminating it would take a toll on the history it represents and the majority of citizens who seek to keep it in commission.
Which of the following statements would the author of Passage 1 be most likely to agree with?
Pennies have never been a useful currency
Most candy today costs at least 25 cents
All change should be abolished
The penny does not carry any historical significance
The penny does not carry any historical significance
While the author of Passage 1 is in favor of removing the penny from use, we cannot use this information to conclude that the author thinks pennies have never been useful or held any historical significance, or that all change should be abolished. However, given the excerpt “go to the corner store today and ask for the “penny candy,” and you might be routed to a row of treats, but you’re unlikely to find anything for purchase for under a quarter,” we can see that the author would agree that most candy costs at least a quarter - or 25 cents.
Example Question #12 : Craft And Structure
Passage 1:
The penny has long outlived its usefulness in the monetary system and should be removed from use. Pennies cost more to produce than the value they represent. In fact, it costs taxpayers nearly two cents to produce and distribute every one cent penny.
Additionally, the penny does not represent the real level of purchasing power. Go to the corner store today and ask for the “penny candy,” and you might be routed to a row of treats, but you’re unlikely to find anything for purchase for under a quarter.
On top of the cost and lack of benefit, pennies are also heavy for their value, so much so that many don’t even care to keep the pennies they receive in change. 11% of people report that they would rather throw a penny away than carry it around with them, and over $62 million dollars in coins are thrown out annually - most of them pennies.
Whether it’s at the grocery register or at the bank, everyone who handles pennies agrees that they are excessively time-consuming to process. Even most charities would rather do without the pennies they receive! It’s time we let go of this costly antiquity and get rid of the penny once and for all!
Passage 2:
The penny is a sacred historic symbol in America and should be respected for its historical value. Over half of Americans are in favor of keeping the penny, and many fear the trend that eliminating low-value currency sets. “Rounding tax,” or the inclination for businesses to round prices up to the nearest unit of change available, could have an impact on consumers, and as inflation continues, the nickel, the dime, and even the quarter could follow!
Not only does the penny help keep costs low, but it would also be costly to take out of commission effectively. The penny is also a powerful historical tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who has appeared on the penny’s face since 1909.
The penny represents far more than its one-cent value and eliminating it would take a toll on the history it represents and the majority of citizens who seek to keep it in commission.
According to the author of Passage 2, Abraham Lincoln
Was only honored by having his face featured on the penny
Has appeared on the penny’s face since the penny’s creation
Would be forgotten if the penny were eliminated
Was chosen to be featured on the penny as a sign of honor
Was chosen to be featured on the penny as a sign of honor
In Passage 2, we are told that “the penny is also a powerful historical tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who has appeared on the penny’s face since 1909.” While we do not know that this is when the penny was first created, nor do we know that Lincoln has no other means of tribute and would otherwise be forgotten (the Lincoln memorial and the five-dollar bill would beg to differ!), we do know that he was chosen to be featured as a sign of honor, otherwise known as a tribute.
Example Question #13 : Craft And Structure
What personal opinion does the author interject into the story that alludes to his or her point of view?
Other mill workers took note of the Lowell strikes and were successful in getting better pay, shorter hours, and safer working conditions.
No specific changes can be directly credited to the Lowell workers, but their legacy is unquestionable.
There was even a journal, The Lowell Offering, which contained poems and other material written by the workers, and which became known beyond New England.
The Offering, meant as a pleasant creative outlet, gave the women a voice that could be heard elsewhere in the country, and even in Europe.
Nearly all the workers of the Lowell textile mills of Massachusetts were unmarried daughters from farm families. Some of the workers were as young as 10. Many people in the 1820s were upset by the idea of working females. The company provided well-kept dormitories for the women to live in. The meals were decent and church attendance was mandatory. Compared to other factories of the time, the Lowell mills were clean and safe. There was even a journal, The Lowell Offering, which contained poems and other material written by the workers, and which became known beyond New England. Ironically, it was at the Lowell mills that dissatisfaction with working conditions brought about the first organization of working women.
The work was difficult. When wages were cut, the workers organized the Factory Girls Association. 15,000 women decided to “turn out,” or walk off the job. The Offering, meant as a pleasant creative outlet, gave the women a voice that could be heard elsewhere in the country, and even in Europe. However, the ability of women to demand changes was limited. The women could not go for long without wages with which to support themselves and families. This same limitation hampered the effectiveness of the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association (LFLRA), organized in 1844.
No specific changes can be directly credited to the Lowell workers, but their legacy is unquestionable. The LFLRA’s founder, Sarah Bagley, became a national figure, speaking before the Massachusetts House of Representatives. When the New England Labor Reform League was formed, three of the eight board members were women. Other mill workers took note of the Lowell strikes and were successful in getting better pay, shorter hours, and safer working conditions. Even some existing child labor laws can be traced back to efforts first set in motion by the Lowell mills women.
No specific changes can be directly credited to the Lowell workers, but their legacy is unquestionable.
The author inserts his or her own opinion but states that the LFLRA’s legacy is unquestionable. This gives insight into how the author is feeling about the reform movement and how important they are. The other sentences were facts rather than opinions.
Example Question #14 : Craft And Structure
What is the author’s point of view about Marian Anderson?
Marian was not only a wonderful singer but an activist who inspired thousands of people to speak out and act against racism.
Marian tried her best as a singer but was not quite good enough for the DAR to allow her to perform, so she decided to become an activist instead.
Marian was a mediocre singer but a fantastic activist who helped begin a Civil Rights movement.
Marian was a great singer but failed to act when she had the chance to make a difference in peoples’ lives.
Marian Anderson was a world-class singer. By the year 1939, Marian had sung for people around the world, including kings and presidents. Her dream was to sing at Constitution Hall but in her mind, she viewed it as something that would never happen. The owners, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), would not allow her to sing because she was African-American.
Marian was used to dealing with people who only saw her for her skin color. When she was younger she applied to become a student at a music school. She was denied entrance because of her race. In the early 1900s when Marian was beginning her singing career segregation was still keeping African-American people from achieving their goals and dreams.
Marian performed in 1925 in a voice contest in New York and won. She was able to sing with the New York Philharmonic! She thought doors were going to start opening for her in the United States but instead, people foolishly turned her away. Marian traveled to Europe in 1928 and she became quite popular.
In 1939, she returned to the United States but she was still subject to the cruelty and unfairness of racism and segregation. When Marian attempted to sing at Constitution Hall the DAR had many excuses for why she couldn’t perform. They tried telling her the dates weren’t available or they weren’t booking. Eventually, they told Marian the truth, she couldn’t perform because they only allowed white musicians.
This rejection inspired thousands of people to rally together against the horrible segregation laws that prevented so many from hearing Marian’s beautiful voice. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR and publicly shamed them for their treatment of African-America performers. Mrs. Roosevelt and her staff arranged a concert at the Lincoln Memorial for Marian. Seventy-five thousand people attended and stood against discrimination.
After the DAR incident, Marian took a stand and refused to sing for segregated crowds. She finally achieved her dream of singing at Constitution Hall when the DAR reversed its policy on allowing African-American performers. In 1964 Marian retired from performing and The Civil Rights Act was signed. She along with other brave activists took a stand and created lasting change against racism and segregation in the United States.
Marian was not only a wonderful singer but an activist who inspired thousands of people to speak out and act against racism.
The author describes Marian as “a world-class singer” and states that “She along with other brave activists took a stand and created lasting change against racism and segregation in the United States.” This leads readers to the understanding that he views her positively and is complimentary of her.
Example Question #15 : Craft And Structure
How would the author of the passage be most likely to characterize the role of King Fredrick of Prussia in the context of the passage?
An integral part of the history behind the term “man’s best friend”.
An example of the typical dynamic between man and dog at the time.
The first documented instance of companionship between man and dog.
Detrimental to man’s relationship with the dog.
When you hear the phrase “man’s best friend,” you probably think of one animal, and one animal alone: the dog. But why is that? How did dogs come to earn the name “man’s best friend,” and why has the name stuck around since?
Many historians trace the relationship between man and dog back more than 30,000 years, to when wolves used to scavenge alongside humans. Other historians cite the point when dogs and people began living together, around 15,000 years ago, as the start to this friendship.
Literature from long ago also references the friendship between man and dog, most famously in Homer’s The Odyssey. However, it wasn’t until the 1700s when King Fredrick of Prussia coined the term that dogs were formally given the position “best friend to man.” Frederick referred to his friendship with his dogs in a way that was unusual at the time. While pet dogs were common for those of his rank and stature, they were normally used for hunting and protecting, and it would be considered strange to speak of them as “friends.” Fredrick, however, was so fond of his dogs that he had portraits of them painted, spoke often of their loyalty, and even requested that he be buried next to them when he was laid to rest.
It is this strange but enduring relationship with “man’s best friend” that has stood the test of time. Today, dogs are often thought of for their loyalty and companionship. Studies even suggest that a canine companion can increase one’s lifespan, lower cardiovascular disease, and improve mental health. Even if you don’t share Frederick’s opinion that companionship with a dog is the only way to be truly “free of cares,” there’s no arguing that dogs have earned the title “man’s best friend” over the thousands of years they have stood by man’s side.
An integral part of the history behind the term “man’s best friend”.
The author of the passage uses the history of King Fredrick of Prussia to show the first recorded instance where a dog was referred to as “best friend” to man. - Be careful! That’s different from saying “the first documented instance of companionship between man and dog” We see several earlier instances of companionship between man and dog that build the foundation for the interactions we see today. However, the author would certainly consider King Fredrick of Prussia’s role as “a core element” of that history.
Example Question #1 : Reading To Understand Structure
“The Petrified Forest of Arizona” by E.A. J. Seddon, Associate Editor, Southern Division in The Mountain States Monitor, September 1918.
The Petrified Forest of Arizona is an area covered with the fossil remains of prehistoric trees. The name “Petrified Forest” is somewhat of a misnomer: the word “forest” suggests standing trees, but these trees fell over long ago and have been preserved in stone. At one time, they formed part of a forest of gigantic trees. They proudly reared their heads above the surrounding country, but they were conquered and laid low by some force of nature.
Then began the process of embalming and preserving these fallen monarchs. They were buried thousands of feet beneath the bottom of an inland sea. This was a vast pickling vat where the wood was slowly converted into living gems. We can tell this because volcanic cones and mineral springs still exist in the area.
Water containing minerals slowly forced its way into the trunks and limbs and roots of the fallen monarchs under a terrific pressure. Eventually, the woody material was gradually replaced by silica, a type of rock. Iron oxides were present in the silica. These oxides created brilliant and beautiful brown, yellow, and red colors in the rock.
Eventually, the sediment containing the petrified trees was thrown up from nature’s subterranean chemical laboratory. The wrappings of the dead monarchs were slowly washed away by erosion and corrosion. Then the glorious sun shone upon the trees once again. They were no longer rulers of the kingdom of flora, but preserved for all time as agate, jasper, opal, and other forms of silica.
Which of the following best describes the passage’s structure?
The passage follows the process of petrification chronologically.
The passage describes the Petrified Forest of Arizona as it exists in the author’s own time.
The passage focuses on how petrification occurs and then considers how this process differs from that which produces dinosaur skeleton fossils.
The passage explains what the author thinks about the value of petrified wood as a resource.
The passage provides a lengthy, poetic description of a single piece of petrified wood.
The passage follows the process of petrification chronologically.
To figure out what kind of structure the passage employs, let's summarize what each of its paragraphs talk about and consider how the paragraphs connect to one another. In the first paragraph, the author introduces the Petrified Forest of Arizona and describes the ancient trees and how they fell. In the second paragraph, the author describes how the trees were buried underneath an inland sea. In the third paragraph, he talks about how the woody material of the trees was replaced by silica, a type of rock. In the fourth paragraph, the author describes how the trees made their way back to the surface.
This summary shows us that the passage as a whole doesn't "[provide] a lengthy, poetic description of a single piece of petrified wood" or "[describe] the Petrified Forest of Arizona as it exists in the author’s own time." It certainly doesn't "[explain] what the author thinks about the value of petrified wood as a resource," because this point is never mentioned. In addition, the passage does not "[focus] on how petrification occurs and then [consider] how this process differs from that which produces dinosaur skeleton fossils." While it focuses on how petrification occurs, it never mentions dinosaur fossils!
The correct answer is that the passage "follows the process of petrification chronologically." Did you notice when summarizing the passage that each paragraph described a sequential step in the process of petrification? The author starts by describing the trees before they fell and concludes by describing how the petrified wood arrived back on the Earth's surface, and he outlines each step in chronological order.
Example Question #1 : Reading To Understand Structure
“Stone Trees”
Have you ever seen a stone tree? While the idea of a stone tree may sound fantastic, fallen trees can turn to stone in very specific circumstances, producing what scientists call “petrified wood.” “Petra” means stone in ancient Greek, so something “petrified” has been turned to stone. You may have heard the word “petrified” used to describe someone so scared that they have frozen as if turned to stone, but scientists use the word literally to refer to actual stone. Petrified trees are stone trees, not scared trees!
A Type of Fossil
Like ancient skeletons of dinosaurs and other organisms preserved in the earth, petrified wood is a type of fossil; however, there is a big difference between petrified wood and most fossils. Most fossils are imprints of creatures or partial remains of them, such as their skeletons. In contrast, the process of petrification recreates an entire preserved tree in stone. It’s very cool to see a petrified tree close-up, because it is still precisely life-size; you can get an idea of how big the tree was when it was alive, and even see individual tree cells that have been preserved. You can even count the tree rings in some petrified trees and estimate how old the tree grew to be before it was petrified.
From Tree to Stone
In order for a tree to become petrified wood, it must have died and been buried a very long time ago. This has to have happened in a specific environment, though, or petrified wood would not be so rare. The tree has to be buried in such a way that oxygen cannot get to its bark and wood. If oxygen can get to the tree, it will rot instead of turn to stone.
The environment has to have two more specific characteristics to produce petrified wood: there has to be water in the ground around the tree, and that water has to contain minerals. If mineral-containing water is present, water will go into and out of the tree’s cells and, over time, the minerals in the water will accumulate in the tree’s cells. When the tree’s cells eventually decay, the minerals are left. Petrified wood can be a rainbow of different colors, with each color corresponding to different elements in the tree’s preserving environment that affect the color of the minerals that form its stone.
Petrified wood is found all over the world, and there are even entire forests of petrified trees that you can travel to go see today. One national park in the United States, Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, is famous for its many petrified trees. The next time you see a tree, remember, after a few million years in the right environment, it could turn to stone!
In the section “A Type of Fossil,” the author __________, but in the section “From Tree to Stone,” the author __________.
explains a process. . . describes the history of a word
describes the history of a word . . . focuses on a comparison
introduces the passage . . . explains a process
explains a process . . . focuses on a comparison
focuses on a comparison . . . explains different requirements for a process
focuses on a comparison . . . explains different requirements for a process
This question asks you to summarize the general structure of two labeled sections in the passage "Stone Trees." To do this, let's first consider what the author does in each of the sections. In "A Type of Fossil," the author contrasts petrified wood against other fossils like dinosaur bones and imprints. The author then uses this contrast to discuss petrified wood's special qualities. In "From Tree to Stone," the author describes how petrified wood forms, walking the reader through each requirement.
This summary can help us answer the question: the section "A Type of Fossil" does not "introduce the passage" or "describe the history of a word"—the first paragraph does that! It's important not to confuse paragraphs when answering questions; if you do, you can easily end up with the wrong answer. The section "A Type of Fossil" also does not "explain a process." It "focuses on a comparison." This means that the correct answer must be "focuses on a comparison . . . explains different requirements for a process," but let's check that second part of the answer to make sure it's correct. The section "From Tree to Stone" does indeed explain different environmental characteristics necessary for petrification to occur. This answer is correct!
Example Question #3 : Reading To Understand Structure
"Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare
1 Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
2 Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
3 Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
4 And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
5 Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
6 And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
7 And every fair from fair sometime declines,
8 By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:
9 But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
10 Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
11 Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
12 When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
13 So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
14 So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Many sonnets contain a “volta.” "Volta" means turn in Italian, and a volta is a turn from one major train of thought or idea to another. This sonnet contains such a switch in train of thought. In which of the following lines does the narrator focus on a brand-new train of thought that is different from the train of thought of the lines leading up to it?
“And every fair from fair sometime declines,” (Line 7)
“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,” (Line 5)
“By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:” (Line 8)
“Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,” (Line 11)
“But thy eternal summer shall not fade,” (Line 9)
“But thy eternal summer shall not fade,” (Line 9)
Let's start by reading the first part of the poem and seeing where the poet decides to veer to address another topic midway through the poem. In Line 1, the speaker begins by asking if he should compare someone to a summer's day. In Line 2, he decides that the person he is addressing is better than a summer's day. Lines 3–8 tell us various flaws in "a summer's day," making the poem's addressee look much better in comparison. There's no veer toward a different train of thought in these first eight lines. But consider the shift from Line 8 to Line 9:
7 And every fair from fair sometime declines,
8 By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:
9 But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
That's certainly a shift! The author stops focusing on the comparison between the summer's day's negative aspects and instead starts considering the addressee directly. The poem shifts from discussing nature to discussing life and death. Based on this evidence, we can correctly state that the "volta" of the poem occurs between lines 8 and 9. (This is actually the expected location of the volta in Shakespearean sonnets. The next time you read one, see if it includes a dramatic turn between its eighth and ninth lines!)
Example Question #4 : Reading To Understand Structure
You likely hear the name “Napoleon Bonaparte” and immediately think of the short in stature and short in temper French emperor. But have you heard about his most embarrassing surrender? No, not Waterloo! Not Laon or the battle of La Rothiere either! Napoleon's most laughable defeat came well before his loss at Waterloo, in the summer of 1807.
Despite Napoleon's great renown as a brilliant military leader, he once retreated frantically from an army of ….bunnies! You heard that right! Shortly after Napoleon’s Treaties of Tilsit was penned, the emperor planned to celebrate with his fellow military men the best way he knew how - a hunt! Napoleon ordered the chief of staff, Alexandre Berthier, to organize an extravagant rabbit hunt for Napoleon and his men.
Not to be outdone, Berthier collected what was estimated to be between hundreds and thousands of rabbits for the hunt. However, while Berthier assumed that, like wild rabbits, these village-raised rabbits would scurry at the sight of Napoleon and his men, exactly the opposite was true. When the day came and the hunting party was ready for the chase, the bunnies were released. But instead of running for the woods, the swarm of rabbits came straight for Napoleon and his men. Though the men initially attempted to fight back, they were overwhelmed by the horde and fled to their coaches on a panicked retreat. It was not until the coaches sped away, rabbits still hopping aboard even as they attempted to retreat, that Napoleon was able to escape the furry army.
Embarrassed in front of the military peers and subordinates who once respected him, Napoleon fled home from a battle he never anticipated, and one he would never fully recover from the battle of the bunnies.
The author employs a series of questions and responses in paragraph one primarily because
the author has assumed everyone reading the passage is familiar with all of Napoleon’s battles
the author wants to prove that Waterloo was not an embarrassing defeat for Napoleon
the author has forgotten to include the responses that make up the rest of the conversation
the author is attempting to reinforce the surprising nature of the topic of the passage
the author is attempting to reinforce the surprising nature of the topic of the passage
The author employs a series of questions and responses in paragraph one to emphasize that the “battle” being referenced later in the passage is surprising, and not what most would associate as “Napoleon’s most embarrassing surrender.” While the author argues that this unexpected surrender is the most embarrassing, this does not mean that Waterloo is not embarrassing at all, or that the readers are expected to know about each and every one of Napoleon’s battles. Instead, the author uses this format as a stylistic technique to emphasize that the information introduced is unexpected and not necessarily common knowledge.
Example Question #5 : Reading To Understand Structure
Passage 1:
Graffiti - the public drawings and paintings that often cover surfaces of walls and other public structures - are often written off as an act of vandalism. However, the time has finally come when we begin to recognize graffiti for the art form it truly is.
Artists such as Banksy have shown us that graffiti can be a way to showcase not only one’s talent in the visual arts but also one’s political and social causes and stances. Some cities have even come to embrace graffiti to such an extent that they have commissioned works of art from these artists on the facades of public buildings.
Although graffiti began as an act of anarchy and rebellion, its contributions to society and the communities impacted by the art have seen positive responses that far outweigh the negatives. Graffiti is no longer a costly nuisance that should be immediately covered or removed, it has instead flourished to become an entirely new and unique art form with talent and renown that will eventually come to match the household names “Picasso” and “Michaelangelo” in stature.
Passage 2:
Though some might idolize graffiti as an act of admirable rebellion, this “art” causes nothing but negative impacts on its community. Those who would vandalize their streets and neighborhoods are no friend to the community. Instead, these criminals deface properties, decrease home values, and leave the community looking less pristine and cared for.
Such vandals also disregard the work put in by maintenance workers cleaning up after their messes and government officials attempting to create a better community for their citizens. While the work created by graffiti “artists” can sometimes be visually impressive, this does not outweigh the fact that what they have created is not art, but a crime against the community.
Popular graffiti “artists” auctioning work off for thousands of dollars apiece only perpetuate this trend. It is high time we put a stop to these criminal activities rather than glorifying them and allow true artists who follow city policies and stick to canvas or sculpture their due respect.
What is the function of the phrase placed between dashes in the first sentence of Passage 1?
To indicate that readers do not need to read this portion
To counter the claims made later in the passage
To emphasize the importance of the phrase
To provide a description of the term before the phrase
To provide a description of the term before the phrase
The phrase “the public drawings and paintings that often cover surfaces of walls and other public structures” that follows the word “graffiti” at the start of Passage 1 and is offset by dashes provides additional context that tells the reader what graffiti means. This is a modifying phrase renaming the term “graffiti” and providing additional light as to the term’s meaning.
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